TOKYO (AFX) - Toyota Motor Corp ranked first, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp
last, in a survey of vehicle quality by JD Power of buyers in Japan covering
cars made by six domestic automakers over the three-year period to 2002-2003.
The results are based on buyer dissatisfaction in nine categories. Lower
scores indicate higher satisfaction. Toyota scored below the industry average in
all nine categories for all three years.
Mitsubishi Motors topped the dissatisfaction indices for both 2001 and 2002,
after acknowledging in 2000 that it had systematically sought to suppress
information for years about vehicle defects.
MMC's sales have plummeted this year after the company admitted continuing
to conceal information about defects and announcing recalls involving more than
800,000 vehicles, dealing a further blow to its brand image.
Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co have contended for second or third in the
JD Power survey.
Subaru-brand carmaker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, which is 20 pct owned by
General Motors Corp, improved its ranking from last in 2000 to fourth in 2002.
Mazda Motor Corp, which is one-third owned by Ford Motor Co, has ranked
fourth or fifth depending on the year.
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